Beautiful Egypt: The cradle of civilization

As home to one of the oldest cultures in the world, Egypt witnesses more than 12 million footfalls each year. The North African country is awash with sights and scenes that speak volumes about its glorious and rich past. For years Egypt has captured the imagination of global holiday-makers who hanker to see the millennia-old monuments at least once in their lifetimes. The Pyramids and Great Sphinx at Giza, the Abu Simbel temples south of Aswan and Valley of the Kings near Luxor have fascinated travelers for ages. Whether it is the bowled-over tourists at the Cairo Museum or the awe-inspiring Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha or the coastal splendour of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt is packed with things to do that will pique almost everyone's interest. Perhaps the defining image of Egypt is the Pyramids. The Pyramids at Giza and the Great Sphinx are part of the ancient Giza pyramid complex, a place which has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status and is generally regarded as one the greatest marvels of the ancient world. The Valley of Kings has the tombs for pharaohs and nobility of the New Kingdom which date back from the 16th to 11th century BC. Perched on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor, the wadi (valley) is a delight to lovers of history and culture. For the more adventuresome, the waters of Red Sea offer world-class scuba diving, with beautiful coral reefs and thousands of species of rare fish not found anywhere else in the world. Not surprisingly, Egypt is considered one of the best places in the world for divers. No visit to Egypt is complete without seeing Cairo, a vast and fast-paced city, located on the banks of the Nile. The core of the city is Islamic, while its history is chock-a-block with a civilization that predates Islam. An unforgettable destination, called the mother of all cities, leaves the visitor marvelling at the civilizational extravagance of the land.